The Department of Veterans Affairs purchases billions of dollars in goods and services each year. It is the policy of the federal government, under the Small Business Act, that all small businesses have the maximum practicable opportunity to participate in providing goods and services to the government. To ensure that small businesses get this opportunity, the Small Business Administration negotiates annual procurement preference goals with each federal agency including VA and reviews each agency's results. The current established goals are listed below.
| Prime Contracting Goals for FY 2012 and FY 2013 |
| Small Business |
47.5% |
| Veteran-Owned Small Business |
12% |
| Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses |
10% |
| Woman-Owned Small Business |
5% |
| Small Disadvantaged Business (Includes Section 8(a)) |
5% |
| Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Zone Small Business |
3% |
| Subcontracting Goals for FY 2012 and FY 2013 |
| Small Business |
17.5% |
| Veteran-Owned Small Business |
5% |
| Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses |
3% |
| Woman-Owned Small Business |
5% |
| Small Disadvantaged Business (Includes Section 8(a)) |
5% |
| Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Zone Small Business |
3% |
Steps to doing Business with VISN 9 & Our Facilities
Develop an easy to navigate company website that includes your products or services, pricing, and point of contact information. If your business qualifies for one of the socioeconomic programs, ensure you get certified, if required.
Note: The Central Contractor Registry (CCR) has been replaced with the System for Award Management (SAM) which includes the functionality from the following systems:
- Central Contractor Registry (CCR)
- Federal Agency Registration (Fedreg)
- Online Representations and Certifications Application
- Excluded Parties List System (EPLS)
Women-Owned Small Businesses
The U.S. Small Business Administration has published important changes providing greater access to federal contracting opportunities through the Women-Owned Small Business (WOSB) Federal Contract Program.
More information can be found on the Women-Owned Small Business Federal Contract Program web site.
What do we buy?
Although there are certain priority sources identified by federal regulations, each VA Medical Center purchases a considerable amount of its requirements from both local and nationwide sources. Examples of items purchased are:
- Pharmaceuticals, medical, and surgical supplies
- Perishable subsistence - meat, dairy, fruit, vegetables
- Equipment, supplies, and materials for facility operation - light bulbs to cleaning supplies
- Maintenance and repair of medical and scientific equipment - cleaning, housekeeping, janitorial
- Building construction, maintenance, and repair - painting, plumbing, electrical, flooring, HVAC
- Prosthetic and orthopedic aids
- Medical gases
Additional Guidance
For additional guidance on doing business with the Department of Veterans Affairs, as well as other government agencies, contact the PTAC in your area. PTACs are non-profit, government funded centers designed to help you understand the process. To find a center in your area visit the PTAC website.
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